2. Westeros and Essos from A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin
Similar to The Kingkiller Chronicle, George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire is still being written. Not only that, but readers have been waiting over a decade to see what happens next. During that wait, millions have discovered the Seven Kingdoms and beyond thanks to HBO’s beloved adaptation Game of Thrones.
Even though this world has no definitive name, readers have taken to calling it the Known World, which consists of the continents Westeros, Essos, Sothoryos, and Ulthos. Let’s focus on Westeros and Essos for now, since they are the two most visited in the books.
Martin was clearly inspired by British medieval history when creating his fantasy world. Not only is the story similar to real-world events, such as the Wars of the Roses, but the shape of Westeros is also vaguely reminiscent of the United Kingdom.
One thing that made the map of Westeros and Essos so popular was the opening credits of Game of Thrones. It takes us across the world to every key location, letting us know the scope of the Known World. And each season, the opening credits would evolve, displaying visuals of new places depending on what happens in each episode. This sequence is one of the first things that comes to mind whenever people talk about Game of Thrones. Iconic? Absolutely!
The slate of Game of Thrones spinoffs in the works at HBO, beginning with House of the Dragon, will continue to expand and develop Westeros and Essos. Let’s hope they keep this opening sequence!